North Duplin senior Reece Outlaw attempts to dig up a short ball during play against Lakewood Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin sophomore Addy Higginbotham serves against Lakewood Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin senior Meghan Martin passes the ball to a teammate during play against Lakewood. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s players celebrate winning a point. The Rebels claimed their second consecutive three-set sweep over the Leopards. (Rudy Coggins|mountoliveribune.com)
CALYPSO — North Duplin needed a “W.”
Mired in a three-game slump, the Rebels accomplished that task Tuesday evening.
Addy Higginbotham and Eva Quintanilla each posted career highs in kills during the Rebels’ annual “Play For The Cure” cancer game — a 25-15, 25-22, 25-21 result over Carolina 1A volleyball rival Lakewood.
“Very important [win],” ND head coach Heather Best said. They came in with good spirit because of the cause of the game. When kids’ spirits are high, they tend to play better. That was evident.”
Energized by emotion, the Rebels tallied 10 of the first 11 points in the opening set. Best’s team consistently attacked transition balls provided by the Leopards and also benefited from numerous unforced errors.
ND easily claimed the set.
Lakewood gained early control in the second, which prompted Best to burn a quick timeout. Despite a flurry of unforced errors, the Rebels pecked away at a multiple-point deficit and eventually took the set.
Set three mirrored set two.
Errors continued to pile up both sides of the net.
The teams battled to 17-17, 18-18, 19-19 and 20-20 ties.
Quintanilla’s ninth kill created the 20-20 deadlock and sent Reece Outlaw to the service line. The senior logged back-to-back aces to make it 22-20.
On the next play, Quintanilla’s fingertip touch dropped to center midcourt on the Leopards’ side of the net. Quintanilla’s off-speed dump and Addy Higginbotham’s kill from the outside pin sealed the outcome.
“We struggled the last couple of sets, but they came back together and they played well. I was happy with all of that,” Best said. “We needed that boost of confidence because we are a good team. Some of us have bad games and I think that has happened in some cases, but they needed that confidence boost. Females, especially at times, need a good confidence boost.
“This was it.”
Higginbotham’s 11 kills clipped her previous career best (10) set against Hobbton last season. The sophomore finished with 10 digs and served two aces, which helped the Rebels claim their second consecutive regular-season sweep of the Leopards.
Quintanilla provided a double-double — 10 kills and 10 digs. Her double-digit kill output surpassed her mark (nine) set earlier this season against Spring Creek.
Sophomore setter Lilly Fulghum distributed 22 assists. Outlaw provided eight kills, three service aces and three digs. Sarah Thomas Tucker had three digs. Marissa Bernal (two aces) and Meghan Martin (two blocks) also contributed.
With three regular-season outings left, North Duplin (7-7 overall, 3-4 Carolina 1A) remains in the playoff hunt. The Rebels are currently No. 30 in the latest MaxPreps rankings.
“We won this game, now we have to move on to the next game and concentrate,” said Best, whose team travels to Union on Thursday. “There’s a lot at stake at this point. Playoff spots are available. We have to continue to do well if we want to see the postseason. I’ve explained them we’re not finished, we still have a job to do.”
Before the varsity contest, Outlaw Foundation founder and cancer survivor Bill Outlaw, encouraged fans to “open their wallets, open their hearts” to support a worthy cause.
Those in attendance silently bid on numerous and unique gift baskets, bracelets, crafts and baked goods created by the volleyball players. The event raised $740 for the Foundation, which benefits local families stricken by cancer who need assistance paying their bills so they can continue to live normal lives.
